Yesterday, Ben Tomblin finished the 102 mile race to the top of the highest peak in the eastern US in 6:23:42, racing a Cruzbike Vendetta. The 15-year old recumbent record set in 2000 by Doyce Johnson stood at 6:39. Maria Parker took over 25 minutes off of the women’s recumbent record, which she set last year, finishing in 6:58:57. Larry Oslund, also riding a Vendetta, finished in a very impressive time of 6:40:47.

The racers welcomed some cooling rain on the final 27 miles of climbing.

Ben’s time not only set the overall recumbent record, but replaces the rookie recumbent record set by Charlie Ollinger last year (in a time of 6:53:48).

{photos below, Ben Tomblin and Maria Parker during the final miles of climbing}

Here is an updated list of Assault on Mt Mitchell (AOMM) recumbent records:

Fastest man: Ben Tomblin, 2015, with a time of 6:23:42
Fastest woman: Maria Parker, 2015, with a time of 6:58:57

Fastest male rookie, 2015, Ben Tomblin, with a time of 6:23:42
Fastest female rookie, 2014, Maria Parker, with a time of 7:25:53

First man to complete it: Doyce Johnson, 1999, with a time of 7:19
First woman to complete it: Shari Bernhard, 1998, with a time of 10:38

Tolkien - "It does not do to leave a Dragon out of your calculations if you live near him."
.I ride a quad renamed Q₆ to camp at remote desert sites of greater interest.
So far that's 27,203 miles camping by bike, trike, and quad in prep for the big trip, Big Bend, TX to Flaming Gorge, UT, zig-zagging the Colorado Plateau.
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There were 472 men that made it to the top, with an average time of 8:11:18.
Bens' time of 6:23:42 was less than an hour behind the first male finisher, pro cyclist Scottie Weiss. His "gender place" was 56 of 699. He placed 5th out of 43 competitors in the 30-34 age group.

There were 58 women that made it to the top, with an average time of 8:47:19.
Maria's time of 6:58:57 placed 3 of 81 for "gender place" and 1st of 12 in her age group (by a margin of over 30 minutes).

Larry's time of 6:40:47 placed 83 of 699 for "gender place" and 15 of 124 for age group.